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December 2021 Blog Archive

I-95 ramp in New Smyrna Beach to close for overnight paving operations on January 3. Thu, Dec 30, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    The Florida Department of Transportation has upcoming nighttime ramp closure plans at the southbound Interstate 95 and State Road (S.R.) 44 on-ramp in New Smyrna Beach for Monday... Read More

Cases of COVID-19 up in Volusia County. Tue, Dec 28, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    With cases of COVID-19 skyrocketing in Florida thanks to the omicron variant, which was reported in the United States earlier this month, Volusia County has seen an increase in c... Read More

Christmas Tree curbside collection Tue, Dec 28, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   With the Christmas season ending, residents will begin disposing of their trees within the coming days. Daytona Beach officials remind residents that trash collectors will pick up all tr... Read More

Volusia County Emergency Rental Assistance to reopen on January 12. Tue, Dec 28, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County’s Emergency Rental Assistance program has leftover funds from a previous federal grant to assist those households affected by the ongoing pandemic. Eligible househol... Read More

University of Florida/Volusia County Extension offers first-time homebuyer classes. Tue, Dec 28, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   First-time homebuyers can now participate in the Homebuyer Program. The University of Florida and Volusia County Extension is offering pre-purchase homebuyer workshops.  Each class ... Read More

New Smyrna Beach COVID-19 free test site open on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Wed, Dec 22, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The free COVID-19 testing site, located at the City Gym in New Smyrna Beach, off Live Oak Street, will be open on Friday, December 24, and Friday, December 31, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., for ... Read More

Volusia County Fire Rescue to bring some holiday spirit to patients at Halifax Health Medical Center. Wed, Dec 22, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County Fire Rescue will bring a new style to Santa’s arrival this year, by ditching the reindeer and sleigh for climbing harnesses and rappel ropes. According to a release,... Read More

Volusia County opens beach ramps for the Holidays. Tue, Dec 21, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Due to the increase in beachgoers for the Holidays, Volusia County will open all in-season vehicular beach access ramps. The ramps will only be open until January 2, and on January 3, veh... Read More

Votran Schedules for Christmas and New Year’s Day Tue, Dec 21, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Votran will change its schedule on Christmas, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1. Riders should plan their travel to avoid conflicts. Riders can also find holiday schedules... Read More

Daytona Beach Truck Meet will not be returning to Daytona Beach in 2022. Tue, Dec 21, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    Organizers of the Daytona Beach Truck Meet took to social media on Monday to officially announce that the event will not be returning to the World’s Most Famous Beach in 20... Read More

City of Edgewater and Florida Department of Transportation announce SR 442 resurfacing and shared use path project. Mon, Dec 20, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin a resurfacing project on State Road 442 from Interstate 95 to U.S. 1 in Edgewater on January 14 and 15. The project will add a s... Read More

The Wonder of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, pulling into Port Canaveral in 2022. Fri, Dec 17, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    Royal Caribbean International announced Thursday, its newest ship, the Wonder of the Seas, will be debuting in March of 2022, and homeport in Port Canaveral beginning Summer 20... Read More

Dr. Scott Fritz named 2021 Superintendent to Watch Fri, Dec 17, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The National School Public Relations Association has named Dr. Scott Fritz one of the 2021 Superintendents to Watch.  Dr. Fritz and nineteen others have been recognized for their in... Read More

Waste collection schedules will not change for unincorporated areas of Volusia County for the Christmas and New Year’s Holidays. Thu, Dec 16, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County has announced that waste collection will run regular service schedules, with no changes made for Christmas and New Year’s days, in the unincorporated areas. However,... Read More

Volusia County Sheriff and Orlando Police Department, collaborating on locating Central Florida Serial Rapist for cases spanning from 1988 to 1998. Thu, Dec 16, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News  Have you seen this man?    Detectives with the Orlando Police Department have identified the Central Florida Serial Rapist wanted in several sexual battery cases from 1988 ... Read More

Votran announces temporary service changes. Thu, Dec 16, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Votran has announced temporary service schedule changes to prevent service disruption, based on the agency experiencing challenges in maintaining pre-pandemic staffing levels.  Thes... Read More

Arden Fontaine appointed as new Public Works Deputy Director Wed, Dec 15, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County Public Works Director Ben Bartlett oversees more than four hundred employees and an expansive array of services, including road and bridge, traffic engineering, engineering... Read More

Volusia County confirms new Mosquito Control Director. Wed, Dec 15, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   On Tuesday, the county council approved U.S. Navy veteran and entomologist Marcus McDonough as the county’s new Mosquito Control Director. McDonough replaces former mosquito contro... Read More

County Council gives final approval to new redistricting map. Wed, Dec 15, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The Volusia County Council passed an ordinance adopting new council boundaries. The plan, also known as plan Fl-5B, delineates the new boundaries for the council’s five districts, k... Read More

Volusia County approves a three-year bargaining agreement with Beach Safety Union. Wed, Dec 15, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County and the union representatives for County beach safety specialists, senior lifeguards, and lifeguard supervisors, have agreed on a new, three-year contract. According to a ... Read More

Library Services rolls out mobile tech lab and culinary literacy programs. Tue, Dec 14, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County’s Library Services are gearing up for two exciting new programs – a mobile tech lab for school-age children and a series of family culinary literacy labs. Feder... Read More

Daytona Beach man arrested for deadly hit-and-run in Deltona over Thanksgiving Weekend. Tue, Dec 14, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has been actively seeking a suspect responsible for a deadly hit-and-run crash in Deltona over Thanksgiving Weekend that claimed the life of... Read More

Daytona Beach announces citywide precautionary Boil Water Advisory Mon, Dec 13, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News According to a release from the City of Daytona Beach, due to a break in a 16-inch water pipe, Monday which caused some to have low water pressure has been fixed and a precautionary boil water ad... Read More

Completion of Free and Reduced Meal Application Critical to Federal Funding; Deadline January 31. Fri, Dec 10, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   This year, applications for Free and Reduced Meals in Volusia County Schools have dropped. Fewer applications mean lower federal funding for public schools with high poverty rankings. Th... Read More

Embry-Riddle student arrested for threatening to shoot up the school with a collapsible rifle. Thu, Dec 09, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    John Hagins, 19, an Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student, faces multiple charges for making threats to shoot up the campus on the last day of school before the start of W... Read More

AdventHealth, The NASCAR Foundation, and ONE DAYTONA sponsor kid-friendly COVID-19 vaccine opportunity. Wed, Dec 08, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News   AdventHealth, in partnership with The NASCAR Foundation and ONE DAYTONA, is holding a COVID-19 vaccine event for children ages 5-11 on Saturday, December 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. insi... Read More

Daytona Beach Police Explorers to host an open house, January 13. Wed, Dec 08, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The Daytona Beach Police Explorers, a volunteer youth organization that develops character in young people through community involvement, is hosting an open house for teenagers who need v... Read More

The City of Daytona Beach announces Christmas Parade bridge and roadway details. Tue, Dec 07, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   On Saturday, December 11, the City of Daytona Beach will close multiple bridges and roads for its annual Christmas Parade. The Bright Lights & Merry Nights Parade will start at 6 p.m... Read More

Volusia County Veteran Services to host a Veterans Stand Down on December 14. Mon, Dec 06, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   The Volusia County Veterans Services Division will host a Veterans Stand-Down on Tuesday, December 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Florida Department of Health in Volusia County off Hol... Read More

Volusia County School Board Member Receives “Star” Recognition Thu, Dec 02, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   At the 76th Annual Joint Conference of Florida School Boards Association and Florida Association of District School Superintendents held in Tampa on Wednesday, December 1, the Consortium ... Read More

Education and Community Town Hall Meeting in Daytona Beach Thu, Dec 02, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   On December 7, there will be an Education and Community Town Hall Meeting held at 6 p.m. at the Midtown Cultural and Education Center in Daytona Beach. According to a release, the meetin... Read More

Traffic Advisory in Daytona Beach for Clash Endurance Daytona event. Thu, Dec 02, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communication News   The City of Daytona Beach has announced a traffic advisory for the CLASH Endurance Daytona event on Sunday, December 5, at the Daytona International Speedway. Once known as Challenge Dayt... Read More

Suspect charged in murder of a co-worker. Wed, Dec 01, 2021 Written by Kristen Schmutz Belden Communications News    The Daytona Beach Police Department has filed second-degree murder charges on Steve Tilbury, 26, of Leesburg after he assaulted a co-worker at Ritchey Autos off North Nova Road i... Read More

Volusia County Libraries offering free Holiday photos. Wed, Dec 01, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Residents can dress up in their holiday finest for a free green screen holiday photo at one of five Volusia County Public Library branches. Individuals and families can pose and pick a se... Read More

Free microchipping and pet food holiday event set for December 4. Wed, Dec 01, 2021 Written by Anthony Bicy Belden Communications News   Volusia County Animal Services is hosting a free microchip event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, December 4, at Volusia County Animal Services headquarters off Indian Lake Road in Da... Read More